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What is Planning Enforcement?

Planning enforcement investigates whether breaches of planning control have taken place and, where breaches are found, takes action to resolve them in the most appropriate way.

Carrying out work without planning permission is not a criminal offence. However, if unauthorised works take place and formal action is taken against you then, unless you correct the situation, a criminal offence can result.

There most common reasons for the Authority taking enforcement action are:

when building or engineering works or changes of use which require planning permission have been carried out without getting planning permission first.

where planning permission has been granted subject to conditions but the work carried out does not meet those conditions.

When unauthorised works are found, the Authority can:

Ask that a planning application be made to get consent for the works undertaken.

Take formal enforcement action - details of these can be found via the link below.

Take no action.

Where possible, the Authority always prefers to settle matters by negotiation, which is always the quickest route.